Nothing in the Budget for the Black Country, say business leaders
The Chancellor's claims that Britain is the 'comeback country' were not backed up by promises that would help the West Midlands, business and council leaders have said.
In his final Budget before the general election, the Chancellor said the Government's economic strategy was paying off and outlined measures that would help individuals on tax and home buying.
But there was disappointment that he did not go further to assist businesses to continue creating jobs.
Ninder Johal, president of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said: "I didn't see anything for the Black Country.
"There was some help to the automotive industry but that was it. He's looking at business rates and that's a good thing and is needed but we need to see what's going to happen.
"There was nothing on infrastructure for our neck of the woods either. A lot of the measures were aimed at helping individuals and perhaps we should not forget that there is an election looming."
There was, however, a promise that Greater Manchester would get to keep the business rates from new companies that set up and praise for its plan for an elected mayor - something Black Country council leaders have ruled out for the planned West Midlands Combined Authority.
His promise of another cut in beer duty was also welcomed.
Richard Westwood, managing director of the Wolverhampton-based Marston's Beer Company, said: "This is great news for the industry which employs nearly a million people across the UK. This third consecutive reduction in beer duty, which we have constantly called on the government to act upon, enables businesses to continue investment as we have demonstrated with our £7 million state-of-the-art bottling line in Burton upon Trent, opened just over a year ago. This further reduction means more long term planning, more jobs and better prospects for the sector."
The chancellor promised the government would help first time buyers to save for their first homes with a special ISA, topping up each £200 with £50 from the government.
Alex Hilton, director of campaign group Generation Rent, said the measure sounded 'too good to be true'.
"Price limits on the houses people can buy under the scheme of £450,000 in London and £250,000 in the rest of the country will narrow their options if prices keep rising at their current rate," he said. The measure was welcomed, however, by Institute of Financial Services, the professional body for financial and mortgage advisers."
Mr Osborne said that 'Britain is walking tall again' with faster growth than any major economy.
Latest projections show living standards 'will be higher than when we came to office', said the Chancellor.
He announced a new personal allowance which would mean 95 per cent of all savers would pay no tax on their savings.
The Chancellor said the 'the sun is starting to shine' as he said the period of austerity would end a year earlier than forecast.
He urged voters to 'choose the future, choose jobs and choose economic security', which commentators began likening to the opening monologue from the film Trainspotting.
Roger Lawrence, Labour leader of Wolverhampton City Council, said: "The Conservatives are looking after the better off and not the ordinary people.
"Whatever they do around tax allowances, they would to be looking to focus on investment in the economy.
"The real detail will come out over the next few days."
Johnathan Dudley, of Crowe Clark Whitehill, Oldbury, who chaired a panel at the Black Country Chamber of Commerce's Budget briefing at Highfields School, Wolverhampton, yesterday, said: "The Budget was what was expected. It was 50 per cent pure electioneering.
"Big tub thumping measures were not required because the economy is doing rather well and it was no surprise that the Budget lacked elements of detail."
He described the Budget as 'a very well written speech' with a 'feel good factor'.
He said the extra funding £100 million funding for low emissions technology would help Jaguar Land Rover's engine plant at Wolverhampton.
Delegates at the briefing voted 49 per cent yes to the question of whether the Budget was more likely to lead to them voting Conservative with 40 per cent saying no. They voted 44 per cent no on whether it had been a Budget for business and 42 per cent yes. Also 64 per cent said it was a Budget aimed at the General Election rather than the economy.
Kevin Rogers, of Wolverhampton-based Paycare, said there was nothing in the Budget for the Black Country, but a lot for the South East.
"The Black Country and the wider West Midlands has become the squeezed middle.
"There is an awful lot of investment around us, but nothing specifically aimed at manufacturing in the Black Country in particular and nothing focussing on infrastructure improvement which is needed in the Black Country. He could have done an awful lot more for the Black Country."
Former chamber president Paul Bennett, of law firm George Green, said that some of the major announcements had passed the Black Country by.
"It would be great if we had had something like the support given to Manchester for the West Midlands," he said.
